# Typesetting equations with LaTeX: updated

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After a recent update to our forum software, typesetting equations on SFN has changed a little bit. Although we are still using LaTeX, for a variety of reasons, we've elected to shift over from our custom-written LaTeX generator to the excellent MathJax library, which will take your equations from post text and render them in your browser.

Much as before, the idea is that in your post, you surround equations with special characters, and MathJax will convert the contained text into an equation for you. There's two types of equation that you can typeset:

• Inline math is displayed in the flow of a sentence, such as $$y= x^2$$. This example was produced by using the text $$y=x^2$$. Note that we do not support \$ signs as most LaTeX users would be familiar with, since this occurs too frequently in text.
• Display math breaks up a paragraph and can be used for typesetting larger equations such as $y = \int f(x) dx.$ The text then picks up afterwards. This example was produced by using the text  $y = \int f(x) dx$ , which we note is exactly what one would type in a usual LaTeX document.

For reference, the old guide is still available and has a number of useful examples for those getting started.

Finally, please note that for legacy posts, the old   tags will still continue to work and these will display equations as inline. However it's likely that older posts may look different to the way that they did before.

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inline $$y=x^2$$  check $$y=ax^2+bx+c$$

display $x= \frac{-b\ \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

$y = \int f(x) dx$

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$y = \int f(x) dx$

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Quote

Imatfaal

$y = \int f(x) dx$

Maybe it doesn't like your spaces, MathJax won't parse your code for me.

However

$y = \int {f\left( x \right)} dx$

But you have to click on page refresh in your browser to get MathJax to activate.

SF has stooped to the (low) level of other forums.

Edited by studiot

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is there a guide for chemistry symbols? the standard math ones are working for me but never really tried drawing a chemical reaction under latex

Edited by Mordred

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On 7/25/2017 at 4:38 AM, imatfaal said:

$y = \int f(x) dx$

$y = \int f(x) dx$

[LaTeX] y = \int f(x) dx [/LaTeX]

\] y = \int f(x) dx \]

How do I get latex to work???

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51 minutes ago, Doctordick said:

y=f(x)dx

[LaTeX] y = \int f(x) dx [/LaTeX]

\] y = \int f(x) dx \]

How do I get latex to work???

$$equation in line$$
$equation in block$

checking $$F=ma_{centripetal}=mr \omega^2$$

$\omega^2=\frac{a_{centripetal}}{r}$

Straight [latex] tags no longer work - although [math] tags apparently do - but it is much quicker to type as above

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Latex seems to work fine now. The problem was apparently in my presumption that it would work in the preview mode!!

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1 minute ago, Doctordick said:

Latex seems to work fine now. The problem was apparently in my presumption that it would work in the preview mode!!

And it seems that one must refresh to see it even when posted.  But I like the rendering, and loads of extra gadgets on right click.  The hover to zoom is very useful for those of us with imperfect vision

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The error correction messages are of more exacting detail than the previous software as well.

Now the error messages provide a direction in the error string involved in more complex latex forms.